Eleuthero

Eleuthero, Eleutherococcus senticosus, is a fantastic adaptogenic herb for people under constant stress, who work hard and get inadequate sleep such as, doctors, college students and graveyard shift workers.

FAMILY

Araliaceae

OTHER NAMES

Siberian ginseng, Ci wu jia (Chinese), ezoukogi (Japanese)

PARTS USED

Roots

HABITAT

Eleuthero is found in Siberia, northern China, Korea, and northern Japan.

HARVEST

The best time to harvest eleuthero is when the plant is dormant. Cut odd the rootlets and discard them. Wash the root thoroughly and let it dry before using. The Chinese remove the root bark and discard it as they consider the root cortex to be the most potent part of the root.

DRYING

Place the leaves on a flat surface in a well ventilated room to dry. You can also use a dehydrator set at 35 Celsius (95 F). When the leaves are crisp, store them in a airtight container away from light.

PROPERTIES

ENERGETICS

Warm

TASTE

Sweet, slightly bitter

SCENT

Slightly pungent

MEDICINAL USE OF ELEUTHERO

A mild adaptogen, eleuthero can be taken over long periods of time as it usually doesn’t cause overstimulation. Eleuthero strengthens the immune system, speeds recovery and enhances athletic performance. It is fabulous for improving cognitive function and concentration when under stress. It is good for stress induced hypertension and can improve the quality of sleep.
Patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy have suppressed immune systems and can be greatly benefited by eleuthero immune boosting qualities.

TCM: In traditional Chinese medicine, eleuthero is used for treating people with “wind” or “damp”conditions. Wind correlates to spasmodic conditions and damp to swelling and edema. In Li Shizhen’s Ben Cao Gang Mu, he recommends eleuthero for people with hernias, paralysis, and weak tendons and ligaments. It is used to strengthen the Chinese spleen (which is not the organ called spleen but the ability to extract nutrients from food).

Used internally for:

cognitive function

stamina and endurance

weak immunity

poor sleep

fatigue

stress induced hypertension

weak tendons and ligaments (TCM)

hernias (TCM)

paralysis (TCM)

strengthening the Chinese spleen (TCM)

Recommended daily dosage

Tincture: (1:4): 60-100 drops, three or four times per day.Decoction: 1-2 tsp dried powdered root per 400 ml (about 14 fl oz) water. Slowly decoct for 20-30 minutes, steep 1 hour. Drink up to three cups per day.Fluid extract: (1:1): 20-40 drops three times per day.

HOMEMADE PREPARATIONS

tincture

decoction

powder

SIDE EFFECTS

Eleuthero may interact with digoxin, so avoid concurrent use. It may also enhance the effectiveness of mycin-class antibiotics.